Can opener



April 14, 1953 H, 5 2,634,883

CAN OPENER Filed June 24, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 9 4 /2 6 L A; l I fi t E:: I

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I} a I /4 INVENTOR arr S/M/er ATTORNEY H. I. STILLER CAN. OPENER April 14, 1953 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June- 24, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a can opener and has relation more particularly to a device of this kind for use in connection with a tear strip and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind including a key mounted and operating in a manner whereby the tear strip is pulled out with a minimum of effort and with liability of displacement of the key substantially eliminated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be easily and speedily operated and the stripping key caused to travel around the can at all times in close proximity to the can and thus eliminate unnecessary wobbling of the key during a working operation and to insure the strip being torn out from end to end to allow desired removal of the can lid or cover.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved can opener whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation, with a portion broken away of a can opening constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through the device unapplied and substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan of the body or can engaging member as herein comprised; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the operating crank for the key unapplied.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, C denotes a can of a well known type used in'the distribution of coifee or the like and wherein, at the time of packing, the lid or cover L is tightly held in applied position with a well known type of tear strip 1 having at one extremity the usual tongue 2 with which is engaged the key K when it is desired to remove the lid L from the can C.

A major length of the lower end portion of the key K is bifurcated, as at 3, and a portion above the furcation, is cylindrical in cross section for rotatable support in an opening 5, formed in the outer projected end of an arm 4. The opening 5, at the lower side of the arm 4, is concentrically enlarged to provide a seat for an annular element 6 which is tightly engaged on the cylindrical portion 3' to prevent upward displacement of the key K.

The end portion of the key K above the cylindricalportion and the arm 4 is squared, as at l, to snugly engage through the square opening 8 in an end portion of an operating crank arm 9. The part of the key K above the crank arm 9 is upset, as at IU, whereby the key K is held against separation from the arm 9. It is to be stated, however, that other means may be employed for connecting the key K and arm 9 against separation and for unitary rotation of the key K with the turning or swinging of the crank arm 8.

The inner end portion of the arm 4, or that portion remote from the key K, is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot ll through which is disposed from below an upstanding stud I2 at the axial center of a body or can engaging member B.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, this member B is circular in plan and of a radius in excess of that of the can with which it is employed. The periphery of the member B is defined by a flange 14 which surrounds the side wall of the can when the member B is placed in position, thus assuring efiicient working relation of the key K with respect to the tear strip I, after the arm 4 has been properly adjusted at the slot l I and bolt 12. The key K is maintained in selected adjusted position upon tightening of the nut l5 threading onthe stud l2 above or outwardly of the arm 4.

The arm 4 is freely but snugly disposed through a guide loop l6 fixed on the outer face of the member M closely adjacent the periphery thereof and which guide loop l8 maintains the arm 4 in a position radially to the stud l2 so that the key K will travel around the member B in a path concentric to the stud [2.

The flange [4 of the member B is provided with a relatively large cut portion I! through which ready access may be had to engage the tongue 2 of the tear strip 1 after the member B has been applied over or upon the lid L. The crank arm 9 is then turned to rotate the key K in a direction to wind the tear strip l therearound and this action results in the arm 4 together with the body member B, turning about the can C until the tear strip I has been entirely pulled out or removed to free the lid L from the can C. The turning of the crank arm 9 is facilitated by the knob l8 carried by the outer or free end portion thereof.

From the foregoing, it is thought to be obvious that the device herein disclosed is speedy in operation and easy to run and that the key K travels in a path which will efiectively remove the tear strip or strap l with no tipping of the can C or popping ofi of the lid L.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and used.

I claim:

1. In a can opener for cans having annular side wall tear strips, a circular body member having its perimeter provided with a downwardly disposed fiange for seating on the lidded end of a can, an arm extending diametrically across the top of said member and having a longitudinal slot adjacent and'an end thereof, a nutted bolt mounted in said body and engaged with said slot for the lengthwise adjustment of said arm, said arm having its opposite end projecting beyond the perimeter of the body and said flange, a cutout below said projecting end and exposing the tear strip therethrough, a key mounted for rotary motion in said projecting end and having its lower end portion longitudinally bifurcated, the upper end of the key being squared and pro jecting above the arm, and a crank arm having an end apertured for snug fitting engagement with the said squared end.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, with the said opening at the lower side of the arm concentrically enlarged, and an annular element snug fitted on said key and seated within the enlarged end of the opening to prevent upward displacement of the key.

HARRY INGERSOLL STILLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

